Your feelings, needs, and desires matter

When the going gets rough, I sometimes fall silent. After a barrage of disappointing news, I can shut myself down with the belief that my thoughts or ideas won't make a difference. Take the pandemic. It feels huge and out of control. What impact can little ol' me make? I might as well curl up into a ball until it is all over. 


This thought pattern is one that I often see among my teaching colleagues - not that they don't believe they can make a difference with students. They are all about that! But when it comes to school systems and processes, they make themselves small. But the fact is that they have a unique perspective on how these systems play out in the classroom. They can articulate the consequences of decisions made by the higher-ups because they are living it.  


This is no time to make ourselves small. We can't just "go along for the ride" because our voices and perspectives matter. As we move into 2021, I encourage all of us to speak up and share how building and district decisions impact our students and us.

• Describe the reality of virtual/hybrid/in-person teaching during a pandemic.
• Ask for the resources you need to feel safe and effective.
• Offer suggestions for ways we can best serve the needs of our students.

How will you honor your needs and be heard in 2021?